Decline in dengue cases, Ludhiana reports only 5

Nitin Jain

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 30

The incidence of dengue, a mosquito-borne viral disease occurring in tropical and subtropical areas, has registered a major decline in the state this year as only 64 cases have been reported so far as compared to 8,435 patients logged last year, the government has confirmed.

However, no death due to dengue has been logged in the state this year so far.

Ludhiana has reported only five dengue cases so far, which is fifth highest in the state, the official figures have revealed.

The data compiled by the Health and Family Welfare Department, which is available with The Tribune, revealed that Muktsar reported the maximum of 12 dengue cases this year so far, followed by Mohali 11, Pathankot 8, Tarn Taran 6, Kapurthala 4, Gurdaspur and Fatehgarh Sahib 3 each, Nawanshahr, Bathinda and Amritsar 2 each, Sangrur, Patiala, Moga, Hoshiarpur, Ferozepur and Barnala 1 each.

However, five districts — Ropar, Mansa, Jalandhar, Fazilka and Faridkot — logged no dengue case this year so far.

The urban-rural categorisation of the dreaded disease suggested that urban areas have been reporting maximum dengue cases in the state for the past seven years.

This year, 84 per cent cases were registered in urban and 16 per cent in rural areas, while 82 per cent urban and 18 per cent rural in 2020, 65 per cent urban and 35 per cent rural in 2019, 70 per cent urban and 30 per cent rural in 2018, 75 per cent urban and 25 per cent rural in 2017, 71 per cent urban and 29 per cent rural in 2016, and 81 per cent urban and 19 per cent rural cases were reported in the state in 2015.

The year-wise trend of the dreaded disease in the state showed that the incidence of dengue registered a major jump in 2015 when 14,149 cases and 28 deaths due to it were reported in the state. This was up from only 472 cases and 25 dengue deaths logged in the state in 2014.

In the past five years, the incidence of dengue remained high with 10,439 cases and 15 deaths in 2016, 15,398 cases and 18 deaths in 2017, 14,980 cases and 18 deaths in 2018, 10,170 cases and 14 deaths in 2019, 8,435 cases and 22 deaths in 2020, and 62 cases and no death due to dengue in the state so far this year.

The official figures revealed that a maximum of 33 deaths due to dengue were reported in the state in 2012, while the highest number of 15,398 cases were registered in 2017.

National trend also down

This year, the incidence of dengue registered a major decline in the country as well. So far, 6,837 cases and two deaths due to dengue were reported in India this year as compared to 39,419 cases and 56 cases in 2020; 1,57,315 cases and 166 deaths in 2019; 1,01,192 cases and 172 deaths in 2018; the highest-ever 1,88,401 cases and a maximum of 325 deaths in 2017; 1,29,166 cases and 245 deaths in 2016; 99,913 cases and 220 deaths in 2015; 40,571 cases and 137 deaths in 2014; 75,808 cases and 193 deaths in 2013; 50,222 cases and 242 deaths in 2012; 18,860 cases and 169 deaths in 2011; 28,292 cases and 110 deaths in 2010; 15,535 cases and 96 deaths in 2009; 12,561 cases and 80 deaths in 2008; 5,534 cases and 69 deaths in 2007; and 12,317 cases and 184 deaths in 2006.

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